Fuel control for combustion engines



Mardi 16, 1965 H. L. MccoM-Bs, JR 3,173,468

FUEL CONTROL. FOR COMBUSTION ENGINES AGENT.

March 1 6, 1965 H, L. MccoMBS, JR 3,173,468

FUEL CONTROL FOR COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed March 30. 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 AGENT.

Mauth 16, 1965 j H. l.. MccoMBs, JR 3,173,468 y FUEL CONTROL. FOR COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed March 50. 1961 3 SheetsSheet 3 cuRvEs REPREs'E/vr D/FFERe/vr 'co/vsrA/vr FLOW AREAS oF oR/F/CE 54 Y INC.

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MAX/MUM EI E i 0F F u E L PuMP4o /A/c. A

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2 Q, L/NEA/z /vrowz op t* CONT/20L VALVE 56 l b) l Yi f q O A/A/-L/NEAR CoA/Took q 0F Co/vTRoL VALVE 56 @ai 2% EIE El o O INVENTOR.

HOWARD L. M? COMES. JR. C R T/ M E5 EL By ONT o1. VALVE 6 TRAV /fwfJ/ AGENT.

United States Patent tice FUEL coNTRoL FOR eoMusTloN ENGINES Howard L. McCombs, Jr., South Bend, Ind., assigner to The Bendix Corporation, South Bend, Ind., a corporation Qf Delaware Filed Mar. 30, 1961, Ser. No. 99,411 4 Claims, (el. 15s-36.4)

This invention relates, in general, to fuel control apparatus for combustion engines and, in particular, to a fuel control for a gas turbine engine.

It is an object of this invention to provide fuel cont-rol apparatus for a combustion engine which regulates fuel flow accurately and reliably over the operating regime of the engine.

It is another object of this invention to provide fuel control apparatus for a combustion engine which regulates fuel flow as a predetermined function of time during an acceleration of the engine.

Itis an important object of this invention to provide a fuel control for a gas turbine. engine wherein the velocity in an opening direction of a fuel control valve is limited to a predetermined value to thereby limit the rate of change of fuel tiow to the engine and thus maintain engine acceleration within predetermined limits.

It is a furtherzobject of the present invention to provide fuel control apparatus for a combustion engine wherein governor mechanism operates to control fuel flow during both steadyv state and acceleration operating conditions.

An important object of the present invention is to provide fuel control apparatus for a combustion engine which regulates fuel flow to the engine to prevent excessive overfueling in the event that the engine fails to accelera-te upon request.

It is still 'another object of the present invention to prov-ide` fuel control apparatus for a combustion engine which provides an acceleration fuel flow schedule of such proportion that thc engine is unable to accelerate in ex- Cess of a predetermined maximum value. i

Other objects .and advantages of thev present invention will` become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein:

FKGURE,A l represents a sectional view in schematic form of a gas turbine engine having operatively associated therewith a fuel control, embodying the present invention;

.FIGURE 2.y represents a sectional view of a modified form of the present invention;

FIGURE 3 represents a series of curves having a Pl--Pg pressure differential vs. N speed. relationship for various control valve areas;

FIGURE 4 represents a series of curves having a Wf, fuel ilow, vs. N speed, for various control valve areas and the effect of the governor valve during governor break operation; and

FIGURE 5 represents curves showing the relationship between speed and time as modifiedl by the contour of the control valve. y

Referring to the drawings, FIGURE l discloses a gas turbine engine generally indicatedl by numeral 16 and provided with. a casing-12 having anV air inlet lli andV air outlet 16. Air taken in through inlet 14 is pressurized by a compressor 1S driven by 'a turbine 2u via a shaft 2,2 journaled in bearings 24. Fuel supplied to combustion chambers l26 via fuel manifold 28 and fuel nozzles 3ft is mixed with the pressurized air and burned to thereby provide hot motive gas for driving the turbine. Energy in excess of that required to drive the turbine may be'extracted from the hot motive gas 4flowing through outlet 16 by providing a conveying diverging thrust producing nozzle 32 in 4the case of jet propelled aircraft. Al-

3,173,468 aienied Mar. 16, 1965 ternatively, the excess energy may b e extracted by an energy takeotf turbine, not shown, suitably mounted in series with and downstream lfrom the tur-bine 20 in which case the convergingdiverging thrust producing nozzle 32 would be eliminated. The torque derived from .the energy take-olf turbine may be utilized to drive the rotary wing of helicopters in the case of aircraft or, electrical generators, (in the case of stationary gas turbine engine operation) or road vehicles, and the like as will be readily understood by those persons skilled in the appropriate art. Another possible use of such a gas turbine engine is to produce hot motive gas for use in steam genera-ting plants wherein energy in excess of that required to drive the turbine 2t) is extracted from the hOI` exhaust gas by hea-ting water in which case both the energy take-olf turbine and the thrust producing nozzle 32 wouldl be eliminated.

Metered fuel is supplied to the lfuel manifold 28 via fuel tank 3o, fuel conduit 38, an engine driven positive displacement fuel pump dit, a casing 42 having inlet and outlet ports 44 and 46, respectively,V and a fuel conduit 4S. The fuel pump 46 is driven by the turbine 2t) via a suitable conventional shafting and gearing arrangement generally indicated by numeral 5?. Inside the casing 42, -fuel tiows from inlet port 44 to outlet port 46 via a chamber 52, a variable area orifice 54 controlled by a fuel control valve 5o, a chamber 58, a conduit 60, a chamber 62, a conduit y6ft and a spring loaded pressurizing valve generally indicated by 66. A pressure differential responsive diaphragm 68 lsuitably attached at its inner and outer peripheral edges to valve 56 and casing 4 2, respectively, Vseparates chamber 52 at fuel pressure P1 from a chamber 7@ at fuel pressure Px and positions control valveKSo relative to orifice 54 in response to the fuel pressure differential Pl--Px hereinafter referred to as a control fuel pressure differential. The chamber '70 receives fuel from chamber 52 at pressure P1 via passage 72 in which a restriction 74 is suitably disposed and discharges fuel to chamber 5S at pressure P2 via a variable area orifice 76 and passage 78 centrally located in valve 56. A restriction Sil suitably disposed in passage 158 serves to control the response characteristics of valve 56. A restriction 80 suitably disposed in passage 78 the position of a manually operated control lever 81 which controls the position of a valve 82 and which is limited to a predetermined range of movement by adjustable maximum and minimum stops 83- and 34, respectively, suitably fixedly mounted on a support member 86 upon which the control lever 8.1 is pivotally mounted. -The valve 82 cooperates with the ori-lice 76 to varyV the effective `flow area thereof and is positioned relative thereto by a valve stem 88 Iwhich extends through an opening 90 in casing 42 land opening 92 in a lever arm y94 integral with control lever Sl. The valve stem 88 is iixedly secured at one end to the valve 32 and at lthe opposite end is pivotally connected to lever arm 94 via extension 96 having a spherical portion 9S. A spring 14N) interposed between t-he lever arm 9,4 and an annular shoulder i102 4formed on valve stein SS serves. to bias the lever arm 9.4 against the spherical portion `958,. Fuel flow on the discharge side of fuel pump 4t) may be trimmed for calibration purposes by suitable adjustment ofv an adjustable valve 103 secured in passage connected between inlet and discharge sides'of fuel pumpf 4t). Relief valve 107 in parallel with valve 103 serves to limit the pump discharge. pressure P1 to a maximum allowable value.

e pressure differential Pl-Pz across variable area orifice 54 is used to control a bypass valve which also operates Vas a governor valve andV which is suitably a1'- ranged in chamber V62 to control the fuel iiow through a fuel -bypiass conduit 106 :connected between chamber 62 and conduit 38 at fuel pump inlet pressure P0. The

A chamber 1218 defined by sleeve I..

114 including the closed end thereof land the oiosed end of cylinder 108 communicates with chamber 62 at fuel pressure P2 via a port 120 formed in sleeve 114. A fiexible diaphragm 122 fixedly secured to the closed end of sleeve 114 by means of a backing plate 124 and associated fastening member 126 separates chamber 62 from a chamber 128 and is responsive to the fuel pressure differential P1-P2 therebetween. Chamb-er 128 communicates with passage 72 at fuel pressure P1 via passage 130. The fuel pressure differential Pl-'Pz at which diaphragm 122 stabilizes posit-ionally is determined =by the predetermined force exerted by spring `132 connected lat one end to lthe fastening member 126 and at the opposite end to an adjustable spring retainer 134 threadedly engaged with casing 42.

Under certain conditions of operation to be described hereinafter, fuel is introduced to chamber from chamber 128 via a passage 136, lan orifice 138, a chamber and a passage 142. The passage 136, orifice 13S and chamber 140 are defined by an adjustable tubular member 143 slidably carried by casing 42. A `poppet valve `144 is seated against orifice 138 by a spring 146 interposed between the poppet valve and the tubular member 143, the latter being `adjustable by means of screw 148 suitably connected thereto and threadedly engaged with casing 42. The poppet valve 144 is pro-vided with an integral stem 150 which extends through an opening 152 in tubular member 143 into engagement with backing plate 124.

A topping governor 154 may be installed, if desired, to provide additional protection against ove-rspeeding of turbine 20 and/or energy take-off turbine. 'FIGURE 1 shows the topping governor -154 operatively `connected to 4and driven by the shafting and gearing arrangement 50 in which case overspeed protection is provided for the turbine 20, only. However, overspeed protection for the energy take-off turbine may be provided by connecting the topping governor 154 to the entry take off turbine instead of the turbine 20 in which case the driving connection to the governor 154 must be modified accordingly. The topping governor 154 incldues a casing 156 having a chamber 158 suitably vented to the atmosphere via a port `169.? and a chamber 162 provided with inlet .and outlet ports, 164 and 166, respectively. A passage 168 communicates inlet port 164 with passage 72 upstream from restriction 74 and a passage 170 communicates outlet port 166 with passage 72 downstream from restriction 74. A normally closed flapper valve 172 connected to inlet port 164 is engaged by one end of a lever 174 which extends through .an opening 176 in casing 156 and which is pivotally mounted on pin 178 fixedly secured to casing 156. The opposite end of ilever 174 extends into chamber 15S and is lloaded in a counterclockwise direction by -a spring 180 interposed between said opposite end of lever 174 and an adjustable spring retaining member `182 threadedly engaged with casing 156. At la predetermined speed of turbine 20 the force of spring 180 is overcome by the force output of a pair of `centrifugal speed weights 184 suitably pivotally mounted on a rotatably actuated support member 186 having a splined extension 18S rotatably mounted in casing 156 and driven as a function of the speed of turbine 20 via gearing and shafting arrangement 50. An annular bearing member 190 sllidably carried on a rod y192 fixedly secured to support member 186 is interposed between the end of lever 174 and arms 193 integral with speed weights 184.

4- 0peration of FIGURE 1 It will be assumed that engine operation is stable at a speed corresponding to the set position of the control lever S1 in which case the various component control parts of the present invention will occupy the .positions shown in FIGURE l.

'Phe fuel pum-p 4G supplies a fuel flow which is directly proportional to pump speed. The Itotal fuel pump output is supplied to orifice 54 such that the fuel pressure differential Pl-Pz thereacross varies as the square of fuel pump speed and thus the square of the speed of turbine 20 driving the fuel pump 4f). For a given area of oriice 54, the fuel pump 40 must attain a certain speed to develop a given pressure differential Pl-PZ across orifice 54. If the effective flow area of orifice 54 is decreased, the given pressure differential )P1-P2 will be Aobtained at a lower speed of fuel pump 4f) whereas an increase in the effective fiow area of orifice 54 necessitates a correspondingly greater speed of fuel pump 40 in order to maintain the given fuel pressure differential Pl-PZ. The fuel pressure differential P1-P2 is dependent therefore upon the above-mentioned two principal factors of effective area of orifice 54 and/or the fuel .iiow output of fuel pump 4f?, the latter being a function of the speed of turbine 20. Referring to FIGURE 3 which illustrates the above-mentioned operation in terms of a plurality of curves which .represent the fuel pressure differential lol-P2 vs fuel pump speed N relationship for various fio-w areas of orifice 54, it will be noted that the speed of pump 40 must increase to maintain a given fuel pressure differential P1-P2 as the flow area of orifice 54 increases.

The fuel pressure differential Pl-PZ across valve 56 is sensed by the diaphragm 122 attached to the governor valve which, in turn, opens at a predetermined fuel pressure differential Pl-PZ depending upon the force exerted by spring 132 and vents fuel from chamber 62 downstream from the valve 56 to the passage 106 at fuel pump inlet pressure P0 thereby reducing fuel flow to the combustion chambers 26. This operation of the governor valve and subsequent reduction in fuel ow is similar to the well-known governor break function encountered in conventional fuel control mechanism for combustion engines. It will be noted that the action of governor valve does not effect the fuel pressure differential P1-P2 across orifice 54 since such action does not cause a change in the fuel flow across orifice 54 or a change in the effective flow area of orifice 54. However, referring to FIGURE 4 which illustrates the linear relationship between the output fuel flow and speed of the fuel pump 40, it will be understood that the governor valve opens when the predetermined fuel pressure differential Pl-Pz across orifice 54- is attained to thereby bypass fuel in excess of that required to maintain the turbine speed and thus fuel pump speed at the valve required to establish the predetermined fuel pressure differential P1-P2 across orifice 54.

The spring 132 may be adjusted via spring retainer 134 to vary the spring load applied to the diaphragm 122 and thereby establish the predetermined pressure differential Pl-PZ required to open governor valve. In this manner, any variations in the fuel pump 40 may be compensated for to thereby establish the proper relationship between the governor break and the speed setting established by the control lever 81.

Now, assuming that the control lever 81 is repositioned to request a higher than existing speed, it will be noted that valve 82 is urged upwardly away from orifice 76 thereby increasing the fiow area of orifice 76 which, in turn, causes a reduction in fuel pressure Px. The subscquent increase in fuel pressure differential Pl-PX across diaphragm 68 results in progressive upward movement of valve 56 and a corresponding progressive increase in the effective fiow area of orifice 54. Since the rate of increase of fuel fiow to the conventional gas turbine engine during an acceleration of the same must be limited to prede- Acceleration of the engine may be made to vary linearly or non-linearly with respect to speed to provide optimum acceleration times in accordance with limitations imposed by the compressor surge characteristics and/or temperature limitations of a given engine. To this end, the control valve 56 which moves at constant velocity may be provided, in the one case, with a contour which permits the area of orifice 54 to vary linearly with respect to time. Since the relationship between area of orifice 54 and engine speed is linear and the velocity of valve 56 is constant and thus linear, it follows that speed vs. time will be linear also. If the valve 56 is provided with a non-linear contour, speed vs. time will be non-linear accordingly. FIGURE illustrates this relationship in graphical form.

Engine deceleration is accomplished by actuating control lever 81 toward stop 84 which, in turn, loads spring 100 causing downward movement of valve 82 and a subsequent decrease in the area of orifice 76. The control valve 56 moves in a closing direction in response to the increase in control fuel pressure PX acting against diaphragm 68. The restriction 74 controls the rate of increase of fuel pressure lX and thus the rate of movement of valve 56. The follow-up action of Valve 82 results in stabilization of the diaphragm 68 and control valve 56 at a position corresponding to the selected position of control lever 81.

FIGURE 2 Referring to FIGURE 2 wherein elements similar to those shown in FIGURE l are identified by like numerals numeral 194 designates a casing having an inlet port 196 connected to receive fuel from pump 40 and an outlet port 198 connected to supply conduit 48. Fuel flows from inlet port 196 to outlet port 198 via a chamber 200, a passage 202, a chamber 204, a variable area orice 206 controlled by a valve S, a chamber 210, and a passage 212. The valve 208 is slidably carried in an opening 216 in casing 194 and carries a diaphragm 218 fxedly secured to the end thereof between backing plates 220 and 222 by a suitable fastening member 224. The outer peripheral edge of diaphragm 218 is clamped to casing 194 by any suitable means, not shown. The diaphragm 218 separates a chamber 226 at fuel pressure PX from a chamber 228 at ambient air pressure Pa. An annular shoulder 230 separates chamber 228 from a chamber 232 which is vented to ambient air pressure Pa via a port 234. The chamber 226 is supplied fuel from chamber 204 via a passage 236, a fuel pressure timing regulator 238 having a fixed area restriction 240 in series with a variable area orifice 242, a passage 246, a spool valve 248 having lands 250, 252, and 256 and being slidably carried in a bore 258, and a passage 260 having a restriction 262 contained therein. The spool valve 248 normally occupies a null position whereby land 252 disestablishes communication between passages 246 and 260 and is actuated from the null position by a lever 264 pivotally connected to a rod 266 extending from the spool valve 248. In one direction of movement of valve 248, the land 252 establishes communication between passages 246 and 260 and in the opposite direction of movement of valve 24S the land 252 vents passage 260 with an annulus 254 which communicates with fuel pump inlet pressure P0 via a passage 267. One end of lever 264 bears against a cam 269 fixedly secured to control lever 81 and the opposite end of lever 264 bears against the tip 270 of valve 208. A spring 272 interposed between casing 194 and lever 264 serves to bias lever 264 into engagement with cam 268 and valve 208. The lever 264 is arranged to engage an adjustable minimum fuel flow stop 273 threadedly engaged with casing 194 to thereby limit the movement of valve 208 in a closing direction.

The timing regulator 238 controls the rate of fuel flow to the chamber 226 during an engine acceleration in a manner to be described. To this end, the regulator 238 is provided with a valve 274 which controls the effective fiow area of orifice 242 in response to the fuel pressure differential Pl-P1 across a diaphragm 176 fixedly secured to one end of valve 274 by any suitable fastening means such as backing plates 278 and 280 and nut 282. A spring 284 interposed between backing plate 278 and an adjustable spring retainer 286 threadedly engaged with casing 194 serves to bias the valve 274 toward a closed position. A spring 288 interposed between casing 194 and backing plate 280 serves to bias valve 274 toward an open position in opposition to spring 284.

The `force derived from fuel pressure Px acting against diaphragm 218 is opposed by springs 290 and 292 interposed between backing plate 222 and shoulder 230 and one end of a lever 294, respectively. A pair of centrifugal speed weights 296 pivotally mounted on a rotatable Support 298 are provided with integral arms 300 which bear against an annular bearing member 302 slidably carried on a rod 304 fixedly secured to support 298. The support 298 is rotatably carried in an opening 306 in casing 194 and is provided with a splined end 308 which is driven by the engine via shafts and gears 50. The lever 294 extends through an opening 310 in casing 194 between 'chamber 232 and a chamber 312 and is pivotally mounted on a pin 313. The chamber 312 is Vented to fuel pump inlet fuel pressure via passage 314 and bypass passage 106. An annular seal 318 of any suitable resilient material is carried in a recess 320 in lever 294 and serves to prevent flow between chambers 232 and 312.

A fuel bypass or governor control generally indicated by 322 is arranged to divert fuel at pressure P1 to bypass passage 106 to thereby regulate the fuel pressure differential Pl-Pz across orifice 206. The bypass or governor control 322 includes cylinder 108 having port 112 with which sleeve 114 having `port 116 cooperates to vary the amount of fuel bypassed. The diaphragm 122 fixedly secured to sleeve 114 responds to the fuel pressure differential P1-P2 between chamber 200 at fuel pressure P1 and chamber 324 connected to chamber 210 at fuel pressure P2 via passage 326. A spring 328 interposed between casing 194 and diaphragm 122 serves to preload the sleeve 114 in a direction to close port 112. A restriction 330 in passage 326 serves to restrict fuel flow into chamber 324. A passage 332 connects passage 326 downstream from restriction 330 and chamber 312 at fuel pressure P0. The effective flow area of passage 332 and thus the fuel pressure P2 in chamber 324 is modified by a ball valve 334 which coacts with a valve seat 336 formed at the discharge end of passage 332. One end of a pin 33S slidably carried in an opening 340 in lever 294 bears against ball valve 334. The opposite enlarged end of the pin 338 is held in engagement with lever 294 by a cantilever leaf spring 342 fixedly secured to lever 294.

A passage 344 connects chamber 226 with chamber 312. The effective flow arca of passage 344 and thus fuel pressure Px is modified by a normally closed poppet valve 346 which cooperates with Ia valve seat 348 `formed at the discharge end of passage 344. A spring 350 urges the poppet valve 346 to a closed position. The poppet valve 346 is biased to an open position under certain conditions to be described by lever 294 which engages a rod 352 fixedly secured tov valve 346.

Operation of FIG URE 7 Assuming engine operation to be stable at a speed corresponding to the set position of control lever 81, the various component par-ts will occupy the position shown in FIGURE 2. The fuel output rate of pump 40 is in excess of that required to operate the engine at the selected speed as determined by the position of control lever 81. The spool valve 248 is shown in FIGURE 2 in an off-null position but, under the abovementioned stable engine operation is held in its null position with land 252 blocking passage 260 thereby trapping the fuel in chamber 226. The fuel pressure Px acting against diaphragm 218 generates a force which i s opposed by an equal` aiid yopposite 'force derived from' return spring290' and spring 29,2 as a result of output'force 'of the speed weights 296 such` that valve 208 is stabilized in position. The lever 294 is stabi-liz `l-'in position in response to equal and opposite forcesi derived from spring 29,2

the speed weights 2916.' Governing action is laccomplishedby'the ba1l`valve "334`wliich; :in response to the lever""294,` occupies a` position vpermitting fuel to drain from chamber l3244 foi'cllarnber 3 12 'vvliiclig` in turn," causes a modification in the fuel"presstredifferential P1-`P2 across diaphragm 122 and ai`correspendingV modification inithej flow affini/through'bypass'control 322.l .lpn'this mannerQthe fpressurev differentialr P l-"Pz across orifice 206 is adjusted'to main'tairifhe'how of lf uel required for steady stateoperationaffhpe selc'ted's'peedl New,"`assurniiig" thatA thecntrolllev'er "81 is rotated counterclockwisefto"selecta higher than eiistingspeed, fhefspoolvalve 248K is pulled upwaid'bylever 264 which follows lfthe contour "of: X268 and" pivots V`Vclo'ckvvi'se about' its `pointy of contact lwith tip'of 'valve' 208. The resulting fuel fiowfpa'tml-anfd'Z'SZ iiitoipa'ssage 260 and chamber' 226 causes ,the diapha 218 tovrriovedownwardly vvagainst spring "292i "The4 Vateff build-'up of "fuel pressure Px in chamber'226 andthus4 the rate of displace'- ment of diaphragm 218 is'cor'itrolled bythe timing regulator 238 wherein the variable area orifice 2 42 is continuously controlled by valve"274"in response to the Pl-Pl' pressure differential across diaphragniv'276 to maintain the pressure differential. .Plzll across Xed area .restriction ,240 at a. predetermined .eustant value irrespective of .variation in .the supnly tael. pressure P1 and/.er the laad t be overeen@ by diaphragm 218 In this manner the flow of fuel into chamber ,2:26, maintained at a substantially constantrate to thefeby control the rate of displacement of. valve 208. in anbpening direction at a corresponding constant value. Thus, as diaphragm 218 responds to fuel pressure Px, the valve 288 is urged in an opening direction to increase fuel flow to the engine and the spring 292 is compressed against the force output of speed weights 296. Preferably the spring 292 is of the non-linear type as shown in FIGURE 2 to approximate a square law function in order to maintain a linear relationship between displacement of diaphragm 218 and valve -8 and the force output of the speed weights 296. However, a spring having a linear rate may be used with proper modification of the system as will -be recognized by those persons skilled in the art. The fuel bypass control 322 maintains the pressure differen- -tial P1-P2 across orifice 206 at a value which, in combination with the effective Iarea of orifice 206, establishes a fuel flow in excess of that required to accelerate the engine in the time allowed by the moving valve 208. However, since each position of valve 208 establishes a certain area of orifice 206 which, in turn, represents a certain speed request, the output force of governor weights 296, which force increases at a rateV greater than that of the area of orifice 206, results in continuous governor action. Theoutput force of speed weights 296 urges the lever 294 clockwise against the lesser force of spring 292 causing the ball valve 334 to open thereby reducing the fuel pressure P2 in chamber 324 which, in lturn, permits a greater fuel bypass flow and a corresponding reduction in fuel pressure differential P1-P2 across orifice 206. The reduction in fuel pressure differential Pl-Pz across orifice 206 limits the fuel flow to the engine thus reducing the rate of acceleration of the engine to correspond to the rate o-f increase in area of orifice 206. This governor action of speed weights 296, ball valve 334 and bypass control 322 is obtained throughout the accelerating range. As the selected speed is approached, the lever 264 follows valve 2018 and pivots about its point of contact with cam 268 causing spool valve 248 to return to its null position whereupon passage 260 is blocked by land 252 thus trapping fuel in chamber 226 to produce stabilization of diaphragm 218. The lever 294 is subsequentlybalanced by equal and opposite forces derived'f'rom spring 292 'and speed'weights 296 whereupon the ball valve 334 controls the'fuel pressure P2 in "chamberl 324 and thus the pressure Ydifferential Pi-Pz across orifice 2.0.6 at the value necessary to maintain the requested speed.

' In the event that`the engine fails to respond to a request fr an acceleration, it will be noted that the force of spring 292 in response to the aforementioned movement o'fdiaphragm 218 will increase and. overcome the force output of weights 296 whereupon lever 29.4 will rotate counter-clockwise causing lball `valve 3,34 to. engage valve seat"336 andsubsequent-ly b ias pin 33.8A against leaf spring 342 which, in turn, allows lever294 to engage stem 352 and open poppet valve 3.46. Thepoppet .valve 3.46 vents chamber 226 to chamber 312 causing a drop. in fuel .pressure EX to thereby reduce movement of Valve 20.8 in an opening'direction or`cause reverse 'movement o f valve 2.08, depending upon the rate of leakage of fuel past poppet valve 346. Ofcourse, the flow 'of fuel past poppet rvalve 3.46 relative to the flow of fuel through restriction 2,62 determines the pressurev level obtained. in chamber 226 vand it will be readily understood that the effective flow areas of restriction 2.62 and poppet valve 3.46 can be sizedl to obtain the desired action.

' To decelerate the engine, the control lever 81 is actuated toward cutoff position whereupon the one end. of lever 2.64 Vfollows the surface of the earn 268. and pivots about its point of Contact with the tip 27.0 of valve 20.8 causing spool valve 248 to move downward from the null position. This allows fuel at pressure Px to escape from passage 260 to annulus 254 and passage 26.7 at fuel pressure P0. The fuel outfiow through passage. 260 is controlled by restriction 262'whvich provides a damping effect to closing movement of valve 208 and .which may be sielected to obtain various degrees of damping depending upon the effective flow area thereof, as desired. The restriction 262 does not restrict fuel flow into chamber 226 during an acceleration of the engine. When the engine has decelerated to the requested speed, spool valve 248 is returned to its null position through the action of lever 264 in response to movement of valve 208. Engine shutdown is accomplished by placing control lever 81 in cutoff position whereupon spool valve 248 is actuated accordingly .to a position whereby land 256 blocks the flow of fuel through passage 212.

It is apparent ythat details of construction, such as openings in casings 42 and 194 for gaining access to component parts enclo-sed therein, which details are neither shown nor described in the drawings and specifications, may be supplied through the use of ordinary engineering skill.

I claim:

l. Fuel control apparatus for use with a combustion engine having a combustion chamber, said fuel control apparatus comprising a control lever for controlling the operation of the engine, a source of fuel under pressure, a fuel conduit adapted to be connected to deliver fuel from said source to the combustion chamber, variable area valve means in said conduit Ifor controlling .the fuel flow therethrough `to the combustion chamber, fluid pressure responsive means operatively connected to said valve means for controlling .the operation thereof as a function of a control fluid pressure, engine speed responsive means operatively connected to said valve means for loading said valve means in opposition to said control fluid pressure with a force which varies as a function of engine speed, a pilot valve operatively connected to the control lever and arranged to vent the fluid from which said control fluid pressure is derived to said pressure responsive means in response to movement of the control lever in one direction and to vent the fluid at said control fluid pressure away from said pressure responsive means in response to movement of the contro-l lever in the oppol i site direction, timing means including uid flow restricting means for controlling the rate of fluid ow through said pilot Valve to thereby limit the rate of displacement of said valve means and thus the rate of increase in fuel flow to the combustion chamber to a predetermined value during an acceleration of the engine, fuel bypass means responsive to the fuel pressure differential across said variable 'area valve means operatively connected to said fuel conduit for controlling the fuel pressure differential across ysaid variable area valve means, and means operatively connected to said variable area valve means and said engine speed responsive means for modifying the fuel pressure differential sensed by said fuel bypass means as a function of speed error for any given position of said variable area valve means during an acceleration of the engine.

2. Fuel control apparatus for a combustion engine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fuel bypass means operates continuously during an acceleration o-f the engine to regulate the fuel pressure differential across said variable area valve means in accordance with the unbalance in forces between said fluid pressure responsive means and said speed responsive means for a given position of said variable area valve means.

3. Fuel control apparatus for a combustion engine as claimed in claim l wherein said control fluid pressure is modified by means including a normally closed valve member connected to vent said control fluid pressure to a source of relatively low fluid pressure to thereby restrict opening movement of said varia-ble area valve means, said valve member being operatively connected to said variable area valve means and said engine speed responsive means and actuated to an open position in response to a speed error signal resulting from failure of the engine to adequately accelerate in response to the increase in fuel flow caused by opening movement of said variable area valve means.

4. Fuel control apparatus for a combustion engine having a combustion chamber, said fuel control apparatus comprising a control lever for controlling the operation of the engine, a source of pressurized fuel, a fuel conduit adapted to be connected to deliver fuel from said source to said combustion chamber, variable area valve means operatively connected to said fuel conduit and said control lever for controlling the effective flow area of said fuel conduit as a function of the position of said control lever, control means operatively connected to said variable area valve means for restricting the r-ate of response thereof to movement of the control lever from one speed position to -a selected higher speed position to a predetermined substantially constant value during an acceleration of the engine to said selected speed corresponding to the position of `said control lever, means responsive to engine speed operatively connected to said variable area valve means for controlling the operation thereof, and means operatively connected to said variable area valve means for overriding said control means to thereby modify the response of said variable area valve means in the event that the engine fails to adequately accelerate in response to an increase in fuel flow.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,906,093 Robinson Sept. 29, 1959 2,949,957 Eastman Aug. 23, 1960 2,968,346 Porter Jan. 17, 1961 2,993,495 Rogers July 25, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 585,032 Great Britain a Jan. 29, 1947 

1. FUEL CONTROL APPARATUS FOR USE WITH A COMBUSTION ENGINE HAVING A COMBUSTION CHAMBER, SAID FUEL CONTROL APPARATUS COMPRISING A CONTROL LEVER FOR CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF THE ENGINE, A SOURCE OF FUEL UNDER PRESSURE, A FUEL CONDUIT ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED TO DELIVER FUEL FROM SAID SOURCE TO THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER, VARIABLE AREA VALVE MEANS IN SAID CONDUIT FOR CONTROLLING THE FUEL FLOW THERETHROUGH TO THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER, FLUID PRESSURE RESPONSIVE MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID VALVE MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE OPERATION THEREOF AS A FUNCTION OF A CONTROL FLUID PRESSURE, ENGINE SPEED RESPONSIVE MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID VALVE MEANS FOR LOADING SAID VALVE MEANS IN OPPOSITION TO SAID CONTROL FLUID PRESSURE WITH A FORCE WHICH VARIES AS A FUNCTION OF ENGINE SPEED, A PILOT VALVE OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE CONTROL LEVER AND ARRANGED TO VENT THE FLUID FROM WHICH SAID CONTROL FLUID PRESSURE IS DERIVED TO SAID PRESSURE RESPONSIVE MEANS IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF THE CONTROL LEVER IN ONE DIRECTION AND TO VENT THE FLUID AT SAID CONTROL FLUID PRESSURE AWAY FROM SAID PRESSURE RESPONSIVE MEANS IN RESPONSIVE TO MOVEMENT OF THE CONTROL LEVER IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, TIMING MEANS INCLUDING FLUID FLOW RESTRICTING MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE RATE OF FLUID FLOW THROUGH SAID PILOT VALVE TO THEREBY LIMIT THE RATE OF DISPLACEMENT OF SAID VALVE MEANS AND THUS THE RATE OF INCREASE IN FUEL FLOW TO THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER TO A PREDETERMINED VALUE DURING AN ACCELERATION OF THE ENGINE, FUEL BYPASS MENS RESPONSIVE TO THE FUEL PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL ACROSS SAID VARIABLE AREA VALVE MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID FUEL CONDUIT FOR CONTROLLNG THE THE FUEL PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL ACROSS SAID VARIABLE AREA VALVE MEANS, AND MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID VARIABLE AREA VALVE MEANS AND SAID ENGINE SPEED RESPONSIVE MEANS FOR MODIFYING THE FUEL PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL SENSED BY SAID FUEL BYPASS MEANS AS A FUNCTION OF SPEED ERROR FOR ANY GIVEN POSITION OF SAID VARIABLE AREA VALVE MEANS DURING AN ACCELERATION OF THE ENGINE.
 3. FUEL CONTROL APPARATUS FOR A COMBUSTION ENGINE AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1 WHEREIN SAID CONTROL FLUID PRESSURE IS MODIFIED BY MEANS INCLUDING A NORMALLY CLOSED VALVE MEMBER CONNECTED TO VENT SAID CONTROL FLUID PRESSURE TO A SOURCE OF RELATIVELY LOW FLUID PRESSURE TO THEREBY RESTRICT OPENING MOVEMENT OF SAID VARIABLE AREA VALVE MEANS, SAID VALVE MEMBER BEING OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID VARIABLE AREA VALVE MEANS AND SAID ENGINE SPEED RESPONSIVE MEANS AND ACTUATED TO AN OPEN POSITION IN RESPONSE TO A SPEED ERROR SIGNAL RESULTING FROM FAILURE OF THE ENGINE TO ADEQUATELY ACCELERATE IN RESPONSE TO THE INCREASE IN FUEL FLOW CAUSED BY OPENING MOVEMENT OF SAID VARIABLE AREA VALVE MEANS. 